A couple of times a month we run a workshop day, either Saturday or Sunday. We keep the group to a maximum of four people which makes for a fairly relaxed day all round. This weekend we had a great day with some nice trees and even nicer folk. I thought it would be nice to share a few pic’s…..
G.
This year again we were very happy to be at the Heathrow Bonsai Show. This is our second year at the event and speaking personally I have to say I enjoyed the show more than a great many we visit. Mark and his team have really stepped up this year, the size and quality of the event is simply out of sight compared to previous shows. However they have managed to retain the small friendly feel of the show and a great camaraderie between everyone.
Like a dummy I forgot to take my camera so I can’t show you any pic’s but the bonsai on display were exceptional and well worth the effort to visit. I always love to see bonsai all dressed up and on their best behaviour. So the only picture I can show you is of the most important part, everyone who made this event possible.
PUT THIS EVENT IN YOUR DIARY FOR NEXT YEAR, you won’t regret it.
G.
Today I cut the price of a large number of our Bonsai Starter Trees. We need to make room for some interesting new lines and once sold these items will be discontinued. Some of the prices have dropped by 300% and we have very limited stock of some plants, as few as half a dozen. All reduced items are marked “CLEARANCE!”. Once they are gone they are gone and won’t be back so if you need to stock up a growing field or a disused part of the garden grab some of these. If past experience is anything to go by they won’t be here long.
G.
I love a bit of knotty pine. This week I had a crack (not literally) at this one. Those of you with eagle eyes may remember this tree from Bonsai World 2013 where Suthin Sukosolvisit wrestled it into a pleasing shape for the first time. Unfortunately I do not have any pic’s from that time but I think this work stayed true to Suthin’s original. There’s still a way to go with this excellent pine but for now it’s coming along nicely. I love scots. If I could only work on one variety of tree scots would be it.
G.
P.S Of course it’s for sale, drop me a line if you fancy adding this to your collection.
The stat’s for this blog show I get around 350-450 views a day. Not bad since less than a year ago I was at half that. Thanks to everyone for your support, it’s very encouraging. While browsing my stats I noticed a massive peak in interest a while back when my visitor numbers topped a thousand for the day. Further investigation showed I had put a post up that day with the title – Pines on Offer CHEAP! Whatever I say now will likely get me in trouble so I will leave you to make up your own minds.
This week I was very happy to see a new arrival at the nursery. This stumpy beast is an English elm (Ulmus procera). We go back a ways together and it’s nice to have it back here. The tree is for sale CHEAP!, here’s a little history.
Deep in the Norfolk countryside I have a little honey hole that is crammed with treasures. Little by little it’s disappearing thanks to the concerted efforts of mis-guided eco warriors ‘managing’ the place. The actions of these marauding meat heads is tragic to see as they destroy old woodland full of character, destroy habitat and strimmer frogs into oblivion. Since when does nature need to be managed, it did just fine before we cam along. So it’s been a quest of mine to rescue what I can from the chainsaw and chipper for more than 10 years now which brings me onto this elm.
Rumour has it there are about 250 localised forms of Ulmus procera. The ones that grow in south Norfolk and north east Suffolk have a nice small leaf form and spectacular craggy and long lived bark that will always display a spiral motion around the trunk. If you look closely at the pictures you will see it. This big lump was growing on the almost vertical side of a ditch. Getting it out of heavy stony soil took a long time and a spectacular amount of hard graft. All the others had been chopped off at the ground and I think this would have been next. A long walk back with the 75kg lump was pretty hard going too.
As is the way with elms a year later it had three foot extensions. Then some point after that I sold it to one of my local guys. Over the next two or three years we did some work on the tree and got it into a pot. I haven’t seen it for a couple of years until it rocked up here this week. Looking good, healthy and developing really well. So, we saved it from the eco-numpties and got it on the road, now I need to find a new custodian for the tree.
F.Y.I the tree is 26″ tall, 31″ wide and has a 15″ diameter nebari. All excluding the pot of course. The NON NEGOTIABLE price is £785.00 + delivery as required. That makes it the cheapest tree, pound for pound on our nursery. Next spring in a pot the price WILL go up so grab a bargain whilst you can, drop me a line.
G.
3/11/14 Now sold. Thanks for looking.
Yesterday I found myself with an hour to spare. I don’t know who came up with the idea of wiring a tree but it works for me đŸ™‚
G.
